Love & Exile: The Marriage of J.W. Lown

J.W. Lown (right) stands with his same-sex partner in front of a judge during their wedding ceremony at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City in November. Lown, the former mayor of San Angelo, moved to Mexico in 2009 with his partner who was an undocumented immigrant.

A tear roles down the cheek of J.W. Lown as his husband says a few words at their wedding ceremony at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City in November. "Now I know my biggest accomplishment is not to have married a great man, my biggest accomplishment will be to make you happy every day of my life," Lown's partner said.

J.W. Lown holds the hand of his same-sex partner as they stand before the judge at their wedding in November at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City. Lown moved to Mexico with his partner in 2009.

J.W. Lown has a flower attached to his lapel as he prepares to marry his same-sex partner at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City.

J.W. Lown says a few words to his husband after their wedding in Mexico City in November. Lown left with his partner for Mexico in May of 2009 on the day he was to be sworn in as mayor of San Angelo for a fourth term. He said he couldn't "in good conscience" hold the elected office because is partner was in the country illegally.

J.W. Lown gives a smile to his same-sex partner as they stand before the judge at their wedding in November at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City. Lown gave up his fourth term as the mayor of San Angelo to move to Mexico with his partner in 2009.

J.W. Lown gives a smile to his same-sex partner as they stand before the judge at their wedding in November at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City. Lown gave up his fourth term as the mayor of San Angelo to move to Mexico with his partner in 2009.

As his new husband and sister-in-law look on, J.W. Lown and his sister Alicia pose for a photograph at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City in November. Lown and his partner moved to Mexico in 2009 on the day that he was to be sworn in for his fourth term as the mayor of San Angelo. Lown said that he, in good conscience, could not take the office because his partner was an undocumented immigrant.

J.W. Lown gives a hug to his ex-wife Miranda Ash after his wedding ceremony to his same-sex partner in Mexico City in November.

After the wedding ceremony with his same-sex partner, J.W. Lown hugs friend Susan Cobb. The ceremony was held at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City and was attended by a small group of friends and family.

J.W. Lown claps as a same-sex couple are married in Mexico City in November. Lown was at the event to pick up the judge that would also officiate his wedding to his same-sex partner later in the day.

J.W. Lown tries on a scarf he is thinking of wearing for his wedding to his same-sex partner later in the day. A small group of friends and family including Lown's sister and ex-wife traveled to Mexico City to witness the ceremony.

While waiting to take the judge who would officiate his own same-sex marriage, J.W. Lown (left) congratulates the groom of another same-sex marriage in Mexico City.

J.W. Lown looks over a massive quilt made for him and his same-sex partner by his ex-wife Miranda Ash (left). Ash and Lown were only married four months before Lown ended the relationship with a "gut feeling" that he was gay.

J.W. Lown looks through a gift bag with his sister Alicia that was given to them from Lown's ex-wife Miranda Ash. A small group of Lown's friends and family gathered at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico to witness his marriage to his same-sex partner.

J.W. Lown looks through a gift bag with his sister Alicia that reads "Keep Calm and Marry On". A small group of friends and family gathered at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City to witness Lown's marriage to his same-sex partner.

J.W. Lown talks with his sister Alicia (left) and ex-wife Miranda Ash as they prepare a dinning room at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City for Lown's wedding to his same-sex partner.

J.W. Lown talks with his friend Susan Cobb in the courtyard of the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City just hours before Lown was to marry his same-sex partner. Lown and his partner moved to Mexico from Texas in 2009.

J.W. Lown shares a laugh with friends and family as they prepare a room at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez for Lown's wedding to his same-sex partner in Mexico City. Lown and his partner have been living in Mexico for over four years after leaving Texas in 2009.

J.W. Lown begins to organize the room where he will marry his same-sex partner (left) at the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City. Lown and his partner have lived in Mexico for over four years after leaving Texas in 2009.

J.W. Lown and his sister Alicia talk with family in the courtyard of the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City. The hotel played host to Lown's wedding to his same-sex partner.

J.W. Lown walks with his sister Alicia through the courtyard of Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City. A small gathering of friends and family arrived at the hotel to witness the marriage of Lown and his same-sex partner.

J.W. Lown talks with his ex-wife Miranda Ash and her husband Matthew in the courtyard of the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City in November. The Ashes flew from their home near London to witness the marriage of Lown to his same-sex partner at the hotel.

J.W. Lown talks with his ex-wife Miranda Ash and her husband Matthew in the courtyard of the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City in November. The Ashes flew from their home near London to witness the marriage of Lown to his same-sex partner at the hotel.

Former San Angelo mayor J.W. Lown greets his sister Alicia outside the Hotel Casa Gonzalez in Mexico City the day before he was to marry his same-sex partner. Lown has been living in Mexico for over fours years after abruptly leaving Texas and his mayorship in San Angelo to start a new life with his lover.